Control mechanism



Jan. 10, 1928.

G. H. JOHANSON ET AL CONTROL MECHANISM Filed March 25. 1926 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Wi 16W Jan. 10, 1928. 1,655,815

G. H. JOHANSON ET AL CONTROL MECHANISM Filed March 25. 1926 5Sheets-Sheet u 11 4 47 M fl 1x 49 .50 J1 EXH ATTORNEY igmzgww Jan. 10,1928. 1,655,815

' G. H. JOHANSON ET AL.

CONTROL MECHANISM Filed-March 25. 1925 Sheets-Sheet 4 5 as I 42 j 24 2 I7' 100 Y /3 I 40 1 911 73 as w 1 5 .12

fiahaaf Mao 14W ark/Tam 1N ENTOR ATTORNEY Patented 1 0, 1928.

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PHILADELPHIA, PENN s21.-

oonrnon KRUEAHISI.

Application filed much as, 1m. Serial Io. 97,102.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanisms for controllinghydraulic or other pressures. v

The invention is embodied in a mecha- 5 nism comprising means foropening and closing valves in a hydraulic pressure system and timingmeans for controlling the periods during which the valves remain open orclosed to apply or cut oil? the pressure. m Means are also provided forindicating the operation of the valve operating mechanism, and devicesare provided for momentarily interrupting the cycle of o erations andagain continuing the same. T e invention is also 15 adapted for thecontrol of the application of heat or cold, or both, at .statedintervals.

Specifically, the invention is disclosed in connection with theoperation ofa hydraulic press performin work or o rations which Wrequire the disp ay or functlonin of all of the several s'ubmechanismsand eatures of the invention.

In this instance it is assumed that the rose ram is to he 'eratedagainst the die be under a certain esser pressure which is to be appliedfor a given length of time, and that thereafter a certain greaterpressure is to be applied a ainst the ram for another, different, lengtof time. Also it is amumed that the work requires a momentaryinterruption of the cycle of operations in such a mannor that it may becontinued from the point at whichit was interrupted, and means aredisclosed for performing heating and cooling operations.

The object of the invention is to provide an electricallybopiperatedautomatic control apparatus em ying features adapted to function orperform in accordance with the conditions or requirements set forth inthe foregoing. x

The invention. will be better understood from the followingspecification read in connection with the accompanying drawingsinwhieh'Q I v Figure 1 is a front elevation of a hydraulic press equippedwith acontrol apparatus embod ing the invention. f

Figure 2 is a view of the press looking in direction of arrow 2 inFigure 1. p

Figure 3 is a view, partly diagrammatic o the-valves and the valveoperating mech aniem.

ence numeral 1 denotes a hydraulic 4. The horizontal branch of brokenawa in Figure 6, but i Figure 3. he water under high pressure is Fi re 4is a diagrammatic view illustrat in t e operation of the invention.

1 re 5 is a diagrammatic view ofspec Fi showing the operations 0 thevalves and the corresponding positions of the valve operating crank.

changing mechanism. res 6 to 9 are diagrammatic views Figures 10 to areviews of the contact? in timing cams or segments.

igure 16 shows the inventionused for the purpose of controlling aheating and cooling system. I 1' Figure 17 is a detail view of astarting device.

Figure 18 is a view of the indicating dial.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the referress having a vertially movableram 2 wor 'ng against a bed 3. In ,order to fully disclose the featuresof the invention, it is assumed that the press is used for the pressinof articles of phenolic lcondensation ro' uct, such for instance as areused in t e radio industry. In such a case it is required that the ramhe moved upward under a certain low pressure applied both during andafter the movement, and that, thereafter a certain high pressure is tobe applied to the ram while in its upper workin or ressin position. Itis also assumedt at urin t e operations of the press, the ram shall emoved down temporarily, for the purpose for instance of permittin theescape of gases. Finally it 1s assume that at certain stages of thework, the ram or bed requires heating and cooling in order to properlypress or form the work.

The water at low pressure is admitted to the press through the lowpressure su ply pipe 4 to the low pressure valve fiand rom the latterthe water passes to the press through another pipe 6. The pipe 6 has ahorizontal branch leadi from the valve 5 in front of the horizonta.branch of the pipe Pi 6 is s own in admitted through the hi h pressurepipe 7, through high pressure va vs 8 and thence to the press throughpipe 18. 9 is a check valve which 0 crates to prevent the high pressurefrom aclring into the low pressure pipe when the high pressure is on. 10is the ex aust valve w ic controls the exhaust pipe line 11 The numeral12 denotes a valve control box which contains the valve controllingmechanism.

Referring now to Figure 3, it will be seen that the exhaust valve 10 andthe low ressure valve 5 are contained withina single housing 13 having abore or channel 14 leading from the one valve to the other. The

' valves are urged towards closed positions by suitable springs 15, andare further provided with the interconnected va with operating stems 16and 17. The high 'ressure valve 8 controls the communication tween highpressure inlet and outlet 7 and 18, respectively. The valve is normallyclosed by a sprin 19 and has an operating stem 20. The va'ves are of awell known type used on hydraulic presses.

The valve operating mechanism comprises a valve operating motor 22.which through suitable reducing gearing 2324 rotates a crank pin 25connected by a link 26 to a snap switch lever 27 pivoted at- 28. Lever27 actuates a movable conductin contact member 29 adapted to contact witfixed contacts 30 and 31.

The'c'rank in 25is carried by a ear 32 on the same s aft as the gear 24an which drives another gear 33 provided with a valve operating cran 34which actuates a link 35 connected to the valve operating lever 36 whichis pivoted on asfloating pivot 37.- A link 38 connects the valveoperating lever 36 vs arms 39 and 40 ivoted on the valve housings 13"and41 and provided with valve operating cams 42 and 43. From the foregoingit will be clear that when the motor 22 is operated, the valve operatinglever- 36 will be moved into different positions to actuate the valvearms 39 and 40 to operate the valves. This Willappear more in detailhereinafter.

The valve operating motor 22 is timed by a timing mechanism containedwithin a time control box 45, Figures 1 and 2, and illustrateddiagrammatically in Figure 4 in which the reference numeral 46 denotes a61 driven from timing drum having six conducting cams numbered 47., 48,49, 50, 51 and 52 se a-. rated by non-conducting disks 53, 53. e

cams-and disks are carried by a conducting sleeve 54 mounted on a shaft55 mounted in suitable bearings 56, 56. The cams and disks areadjustably clamped on the sleeve between suitable collars 140 and 141 torotate with the shaft. :To one end of the sleeve 54 there is secured astarting disk 57 actuated by a pawl 58 which is operated to rotate thedisk 57 v by means of a solenoid 60. At the opposite end the shaft 55carries a gear the gear 62 'on the timing motor 63. v v Figure 5illustrates a speed changing-dd vice in which an idler gear 64'ismounted 80 and on an arm 65 which may be adjusted circumferentially ofthe motor gear 62 in a fixed slotted member 66. It is obvious that theidler gear 64 drives the timing drum gear 61 at a given ratio or speedwith relation to the motor gear 62, in that the idler gear is ad- 'ustedto mesh with both the gears 61 and 62.

bus the speed of the timin drum may be changed by substitutingdiiferently sized gears on the timing shaft 55. On the latter there isalso mounted a hand moving over a fixed dial 71.

The conducting cams have contacting portions 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 and 77as seen in Figures 10 to 15. The contacting cams make contact with fixedyielding contacts 78, 79, 80, 81, 82 and 83. The shaft 55 carries a pin84 which plays in a slot 85 in the drum sleeve 54. 86 and 87 are theline wires.

The operation is as follows: The operator, in the'case chosenfor-illustration, fills the dies with phenolic condensation productpowder and places the filled dies on the ram.

He then presses the push button 90 thus" closing a circuit through thestarter solenoid 60 through wires 91 and 92. The solenoid beingenergized moves the awl 58 to rotate the starter disk 57 and rum 46 ashort distance during which time the slot 85 in the sleeve 54 moves onthe pin 84, there being a short lost motibn between the sleeve and theshaft 55. This starting rota-ting movement of the drum is sufiicient toestablish contact between the interrupted cum contact 73 on disk 48,Figure 11, and its fixed contact 79, Figure 4, so that a circuit isestablished as follows :from line 86 via wire 93, closed spring contacts94, 95, wire 96, wire 97, cam contact 72, Figure 10, to sleeve 54,through the sleeve to conducting disk 48 and its contactlng cam 73,contact 79, wire 98, motor 63 and wires 99 and 92 back to the line 87.Hence the timing motor 63 starts to rotate and keeps rotating to drivethe timin drum one complete revolution at the end 0? which the circuitthrough the motor is broken by the gap 100 in conducting cam 73, Figure11. Thls gap corres nds in length substantially to the length 0 the lostmotion between the drum shaft 54 and drum sleeve 55.

Immediately after the start of the timing motor 63, the cam contact 74,Figure 12, contacts with fixed contact 80 and a circuit is establishedas follows :---from line 86 through 93, 94 95, 96, 97, 78, the drum tocontact wire 101 to switch contact 30, to 29 and wire 102 to the valveoperating motor 22, hence through wire 103 back to the line 87. Thissecond circuit starts the valve operating motor 22 and through theinstrumentalities described in connection with Figure 3, the crank 34 isrotated one quarter turn from the position shown in Figures 3, 4 and hasbeen actuated to operate the valve arms and valves 10 and into theposition shown in Figure 7 with the result that the exhaust valve 10 hasbeen permitted to close by its spring and the low pressure valve 5 hasbeen opened by valve cam 42. Water under low pressure isthereforeadmitted to lift tion of said crank been rotated one halfrevolution and broken the circuit by operating the switch lever 27 tobreak the contacts 30 and 29, and the contact 29 snaps to the other sideand makes contact with 31. Hence the motor 22 stops and the low pressureremains on until a new circuit is established through the motor 22 byway of the timing drum.

The new circuit is closed when the cam contact 75, Figure 13, contactswith 'fixed' contact 81. The circuit is as follows :--from the line 86and to the drum disk 47 as described above, then to disk 50, contacts 75and 81, thence through wire 105 to switch contacts 31 and 29 and thencethrough the motor 22. a Y

The crank 34 is operated a second quarter turn to the position shown inFigure 8 and correspondingly the valve arms and valves have been movedtheirfull stroke as shown in Figure 8 and valve cam 43 has opened thehigh pressure valve 8 through which water at high pressure is admittedto the press and under the ram thereby subjecting the phe noliccondensation product to an increased high pressure.

- The check valve 9, Figure 1, prevents the high pressure from enteringthe low pressure line in an obvious manner.

7 However, the circuit through the motor 22 has again been broken at2931 at the switch andcontact again made at29-30. The high a pressurewill therefore remain on until the motor 22 is again started. Thisstarting occurs when the cam; contact 76, Figure 14, comes around andcontacts with fixed contact 82, whereby a new circuit is establishedfrom the line 86 to the drum as before, thence to disk51, contact 82 andwires 106 and 101,

through the switch 3029 and through mo-' tor 22 and back to the line.

The motor 22 starts for the third time and crank 34 is moved into theposition shown r in Figure 9 and the valve arms are likewise operated sothat the. high pressure valve is closed. Immediately thereafter. thecircuit.

is again broken at the switch andthe last cam contact 77, Figure 15,contacts with fixed contact 83,/Figure 4, to establish a circuitthrough-motor 22 by way of wires 105 and 102, and the crank 34 is movedfrom the last stated position in Figure 9 to the normal tomatically anposition in Figure 6. The valves are accordingly a ain operated to closethe low pressure an open the exhaust, and the press is opened and thepressed articles taken out. The cycle of operations is now completed.

From the foregoing it will be clear that from the moment the operatorpushes the button 90 the (R de of operations begin anis completed, eachoperation being timed exactly in accordancewith the cam contacts on thetiming drum. These contacts are inexpensive to make and adjustablyattached to the drum and thus the timing may be varied guickly tocorrespond with the requirements 0 the work.

It has been proposed to time the valves by means of cams of diiierentlength operating directly on the valve stems, and theoretically thiswould seem entirely feasible and practicable. However, in practice ithas been found well nigh impossible to make cams so accurate as to timethe operations to the degree required and which very often must be oneto the second to avoid unfavorable chemical changes in the product. Itis also very expensive because only the highest skilled labor may beemployed and it is impossible to make the cam arrangement as exible asthe adjustment of the contact disks on the timing drum.

It has been stated in the foregoing that the cycle of operations must beinterrupted at times, for instance to permit the escape of gases. Toaccomplish this, an emergency mechanism is provided. Referring toFigures3 and 4: it will be seen that the floating pivot 37 for the valveoperating lever 36 is carried by a gear 110 which meshes with anothergear 111 operated by an emergency handle 112, which also keeps thespring contacts 94 and 95 normally closed by an abut-.

ment 142.

When it is desired to open the press at any for instance, the operatorpulls down on the handle 112, and thus interrupting the circuit at 94and 95, rotates the lever pivot 37 one half revolution on gear 110 andthe pin 113 between the link 35 and lever 36 now becomes the ivot aroundwhich lever 36 is moved.

I the emergency handle is thus pulled while the low pressure is on, seeFigure 7, it is clear that the lever 36 is operated to move the valvearms into the normal position in Figure 6 and the press may be opened toremedy the trouble. Similarly if the trouble occurs while the highpressure is on, Fi re 8, and the handle 112 is operated, the va ves willbe moved back to the position in Figure 7 whenlow ressure is on, and bythereafter closing (lifting) the emergency handle, the valves will berestored to normal position and the press may be opened.

If the press is to be opened merely to let ofi gases, the operator pullsthe handle 112 '55 the operator may down and then up ain and almost atonce to permit the ram to ower just enough to let the gases escape.After the operation of the emergency handle, the cycle of the operationsproceed as before, the circuit being hestored automatically by theclosing of contacts 94 and 95.

Referring now to Figure 16 the numerals .115 and-116 denote two valveboxes or valve 125. -To the other side it is connected to I operateanother valve 126 in the steam line 401 p the opened 122 -by means oflinks 127 and 128. The lever 124 is also connected by links 129 and 130to operate a valve 131 in the water pipe line 132 leading to the pressat 133. 7

The 0 eration is as follows. When the lever 11 is moved (through thetiming drum circuit) to open. the low pressure valve 5 throu h the link118, it also through links 120 an 121opens the steam valve 119 to admitsteam to the press (dies). At this time valve 126 is open because theother valve box 116 has not yetbeen operated. When thereafter, as perthe above described timing drum circuits, the lever 124 through link 125opens the high pressure valve 8, it also closes valve 126 through links127 and 128, thereby shutting off the steam to press. And atthe sametime, through links 129 and 130, the water valve 131 is to admit coolingwater through the water pipe line 132; When the cycle of operation iscompleted the valves 119 and 131 will be closed and the valve 126 openedready for the next operation."

The wiring diagram from the drum to the two valve boxes is not shown, itbeing obvious from the disclosure in Figure 4.

" The severalsteps in the cycle of operations may be convenientlyobserved by the passage of the hand 7 0 moving over the dial "71. On thelatter-may be laced suitable legends indicating the severa steps .sothat at alltimes know'and observe theprogress of the .work. Anillustration of the markings on the dial is shown I inFigure18. f 7

The volume of operations may be observed by means of a Veeder counter 175 whichis operated stepwise by a. suitable mechanism 1 indicated at 176and which may be of a nature similar to that seen 17. V

The foregoing is thought to clearly disclose our invention and itsseveral features. The apparatus as a whole may be attached directly tothe press or erected at some distance therefrom. The exact'length oftime of each individual operation is measured by the length of thecontacting cam surfaces on the timing drum. Any variation therein isquickly made by loosening the collars 140 and 141 on the timing drumsleeve and then adjust the contact cams circumferentially thereof.Itwill also be understood that the number and shapes of the contactingcams and the number of circuits established thereby may be considerablyvaried, the apparatus being extremely flexible and adapted to suitvarying local conditions.

While we have shown our invention in its preferred form nevertheless itwill be understood that we do not wish to be limited to the exactfeatures or details shown, but that changes and alterations may readilybe made without departing from the principle of the invention and withinthe scope of the appended claims. a

We claim I 1. In a system for controlling hydraulic pressures, thecombination of pressure supply means, valves for regulating thepressures, valve actuating means, automatic mechanism for operating thevalve actuating means to regulate the valves in predetermined sequence,and an electric circuit for automatically actuating said mechanism.

2. In a system for. controlling hydraulic 5| pressures, the combinationof means for supplying pressures of different degress, valves forregulating the pressures,'a control apparatus for automaticallyoperating the sand valves in predetermined sequence and at difi'erentperiods corresponding to the pressures to be applied, and an electriccircuit for automatically actuating said control apparatus.

3. In a system for controlling hydraulic pressures, the combination ofpressure supply means and an automatic electrically o erated controlmechanism for regulating the dpjgpiees and durations of the pressuresapp 4. In a s stem for controlling hydraulic pressures, t e combinationof pressure supply means and an automatic electrically operated controlmechanism for'regulnting the degrees and durations of the premuresapplied in predetermined sequence.

- 5. In a system for controlling hydraulic pressures, the combination ofpressure supply means, pressure regulating means,

mechamsm for operating the regulating means and an electric circuit foractuating said mechanism to operate the regulating means automaticallythrough a predeterlmined cycle of operations applying the presatingcircuit inoperative upon the completion of the said cycle ofoperations.

7. In a system for controlling hydraulic pressures, the combination ofpressure supply means, pressure regulating means, mechanism foroperating the regulating means, an electric circuit for actuating saidmechanism to operate the regulating means automatically t rough apredetermined cycle of operatlons applying the pressures in differentdegrees and for different periods of duration and means for breaking-thesaid electric circuit to momentarily interrupt the operations of thesaid mechanism. a

8. In a system for controlling hydraulic pressures, the combination ofpressure su ply means, pressure regulating means, mec anism foroperating the regulating means, an automatically actuated electricallyoperated apparatus for actuating said mechanism to operate theregulating means automatically through a predetermined cycle ofoperations applying the pressures in dlfierent degrees and for differentperiods of duration, means for stopping theoperations of said apparatusto interrupt the said cycle of operations and for again causing saidapparatus to operate to resume and continue the operations of the saidcycle of operations. d 9. In a system for controlling hydraulicpressures, and the application of heat and cold, the combination ofpressure supply means and means for supplying heat and cold, automaticmeans for applying heat together with pressure of a predetermineddegree, said application to last for a predetermined period ofduration,and other automatic means for applyin cold together with a differentpressure, sai second application 'lng means, mechanisms tolast for thesame or a different period of duration. v i

10. In a system for controlling hydraulic pressures and the applicationof heat and cold, the combination of pressure supply means and means forsupplying heat and cold, devices for regulatin the said supplyoroperating the regulating devices and electrically operated automaticcontrol apparatus for actuating said mechanisms to operate theregulating devices automatically through a predetermined cycle ofoperations for applying pressure at a given degree together withapplying heat and for applying pressure at anothar given degree togetherwith applying col 11. In a system for controlling'hydraulic pressuresand the application of heat and cold simultaneously therewith inapredetermined sequence, the combination of apparatus for supplyingpressure and heat and cold, devices for regulating the said supplyingapparatus, mechanisms for operating the regulating devices, anelectrically operated auto-, matic control instrument for actuating someof said mechanisms to operate some of the regulating devices through apredetermined cycle of operations applying a given pressure.

and heat for a given length of time and a second similar electricallyoperated automatic control instrument 'for actuating other mechanisms tooperate other regulating de vices through another predetermined cycle ofoperations applying a different pressure and cold for a given length oftime and for shutting off the application of heat.

12. In a system for controlling hydraulic pressures, the combination ofpressure supply means, pressure regulating means, mechanlsm foroperating the regulating means and an electric circuit for actuatingsaid mechanism to operate the regulating means automatically through apredetermined cycle of operations applying the pressures in differentdegrees and for diflerent periods of durations and means indicating thesaid cycle of operations. 7

GUSTAV H. J OHANSON. CHRISTIAN WILHJELM.

